Independent rankings built from public data — every figure traceable to the body that published it.

Photo: Bernard Gagnon derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Madagascar places highest on Female Labour Force Participation Rate (top 1% worldwide) and lowest on Working Poverty Rate (bottom 1%).
Population
31,195,932
people
since 1950
Land area
581,800
km²
since 1961
GDP per person
1,668
international $, PPP
since 1990
Life expectancy
63.63
years at birth
since 1950
Human development
0.487
HDI, 0–1
since 1999
Unemployment
3.041
% of the labour force
since 1991
The newest published figure for each, the year it describes and who published it, with a line showing how it has moved.
01The country
As Wikidata records them. Official languages are the least consistent — some countries list only a national language, others every regional one. Sources and licences.
02Country Index 2026
Strongest first. Each position is Madagascar’s place among the countries with a standing on that topic, built from a few key statistics chosen to measure different things.
joint29thof 161
From 3 of 3 key statistics
84thof 177
From 3 of 3 key statistics
joint99thof 182
From 4 of 4 key statistics
136thof 198
From 3 of 3 key statistics
146thof 182
From 4 of 4 key statistics
joint152ndof 178
From 3 of 3 key statistics
168thof 194
From 3 of 3 key statistics
172ndof 193
From 5 of 5 key statistics
135thof 147
From 2 of 3 key statistics
189thof 201
From 4 of 4 key statistics
180thof 191
From 3 of 3 key statistics
147thof 150
From 3 of 3 key statistics
Each standing is built from a few key statistics chosen to measure different things. Select a subject for Madagascar’s readings on it, or see every statistic held for Madagascar in the table further down this page.
03Highs and lows
The two ends of its own record: every statistic on which Madagascar sits within ten places of the best or worst in the world, plus its strongest and weakest readings overall. Each is turned into a percentile — its place among every country measured — which is what lets a hunger score and a press-freedom rank be compared at all.
In the top third of all countries measured. 6 are within ten places of the best in the world, in a field of at least 50 countries — marked with that place.
Position · derived 1st of 182 · 82.91 · 2025
world median 53.36 (better)
Position · derived 59th of 59 · 1 = worst · 0 · 2025
world median 0
Position · derived 2nd of 182 · 85.5 · 2025
world median 61.66 (better)
Position · derived 3rd of 182 · 82.89 · 2025
world median 57.72 (better)
Position · derived 121st of 126 · 1 = worst · 0.673 · 2025
world median 2.296 (better) · ▲ 7 pts since 2015
Rank 140th of 149 · 1 = worst · 45.67 · 2023
world median 100.66 (better)
In the bottom third of all countries measured. 15 are within ten places of the worst in the world, in a field of at least 50 countries — marked with that place.
Position · derived 1st of 97 · 1 = worst · 94.44 · 2025
world median 36.83 (worse)
Position · derived 154th of 155 · 1,957 · 2024
world median 2,982 (worse)
Position · derived 166th of 168 · 3,296 · 2025
world median 47,384 (worse)
Position · derived 3rd of 104 · 1 = worst · 39.5 · 2023
world median 5.2 (worse) · ▼ 5 pts since 2013
Position · derived 3rd of 182 · 1 = worst · 84.42 · 2025
world median 28.67 (worse) · ▼ 2 pts since 2015
Position · derived 135th of 139 · 24.45 · 2024
world median 72.83 (worse)
Position · derived 5th of 109 · 1 = worst · 0.386 · 2025
world median 0.039 (worse) · ▼ 4 pts since 2018
Position · derived 178th of 182 · 1.84 · 2025
world median 22.16 (worse)
Position · derived 97th of 102 · 1,658 · 2025
world median 14,273 (worse)
Position · derived 179th of 185 · 1,668 · 2025
world median 17,265 (worse)
Position · derived 43rd of 50 · 52.29 · 2024
world median 65.82 (worse)
Position · derived 43rd of 50 · 31.64 · 2024
world median 50.13 (worse)
Position · derived 41st of 50 · 57.28 · 2024
world median 66.8 (worse)
Position · derived 10th of 162 · 1 = worst · 39.84 · 2024
world median 13.8 (worse)
A band is a place among the countries each publisher scores, so Madagascar can move because other countries moved. See the Country Index for the full method.
04Over time
The published rank in widely quoted reports, edition by edition — each end with the size of that year’s field — and the statistics, not already named above, on which it has gained or lost the most ground.
UNDP Human Development Report Office
126th
of 153 · 1999
183rd
of 193 · 2023
Ranked in 25 of 34 editions
Transparency International
117th
of 173 · 2012
148th
of 181 · 2025
Ranked in 14 of 14 editions
UNDP Human Development Report Office
149th
of 171 · 2021
156th
of 172 · 2023
Ranked in 3 of 34 editions
World Intellectual Property Organization
106th
of 132 · 2022
120th
of 139 · 2025
Ranked in 4 of 4 editions
Growth Lab at Harvard University
128th
of 140 · 1995
119th
of 145 · 2024
Ranked in 30 of 30 editions
Oxford Insights
155th
of 172 · 2020
168th
of 195 · 2025
Ranked in 6 of 6 editions
Where Madagascar has climbed against the rest of the world, in percentile points.
Where Madagascar has slipped against the rest of the world, in percentile points.
05In context
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place in the world ranking of 174, not within the region.
Madagascar has no land border with another country.
Every country in the sub-region, by its position in the world (of 174 placed).
06The evidence
Grouped by topic. Each row gives the newest edition’s rank or position, the published value and the year the numbers describe — select a row for the world median, the best in the world and the trend.
Bottom fifth · bottom 16% of 132 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Agriculture orientation index (1.0 = spending matches sector size)
Madagascar 0.12 · world median 0.305 (worse)
Best in the world 5.38 (Singapore)
▼ -13 percentile points since 2014
Bottom fifth · bottom 14% of 50 countries measured
World Bank Group · Operational efficiency score (0–100)
Madagascar 52.29 · world median 65.82 (worse)
Best in the world 87.33 (Singapore)
No earlier reading to compare
Bottom fifth · bottom 14% of 50 countries measured
World Bank Group · Public services score (0–100)
Madagascar 31.64 · world median 50.13 (worse)
Best in the world 73.31 (Estonia)
No earlier reading to compare
Bottom fifth · bottom 18% of 50 countries measured
World Bank Group · Regulatory framework score (0–100)
Madagascar 57.28 · world median 66.8 (worse)
Best in the world 78.34 (Hungary)
No earlier reading to compare
Lower middle · bottom 36% of 198 countries measured
CIVICUS · Civic space score (0–100)
Madagascar 34.85 · world median 50.46 (worse)
Best in the world 100 (Kiribati)
No earlier reading to compare
Bottom fifth · bottom 18% of 185 countries measured
UNICEF · Children under 5 whose birth is registered (%)
Madagascar 73.8 · world median 98.4 (worse)
Best in the world 100 (53 countries tied)
No earlier reading to compare
Bottom fifth · bottom 19% of 182 countries measured · 182 share 181 positions
Transparency International · CPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean)
Madagascar 25 · world median 39 (worse)
Best in the world 89 (Denmark)
▼ -7 percentile points since 2015
Middle · top 48% of 78 countries measured
World Bank Group · IDA Resource Allocation Index (1 = low to 6 = high)
Madagascar 3.25 · world median 3.246 (better)
Best in the world 4.225 (Rwanda)
▲ +11 percentile points since 2015
Top fifth · top 17% of 109 countries measured
World Bank Group · Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and primary income)
Madagascar 7.172 · world median 12.93 (better)
Best in the world 0.285 (Iran)
▼ -4 percentile points since 2014
Middle · top 41% of 110 countries measured
World Bank Group · External debt stocks (% of GNI)
Madagascar 39.21 · world median 43.94 (better)
Best in the world 2.213 (Iran)
▼ -11 percentile points since 2014
Lower middle · bottom 38% of 132 countries measured
World Bank Group · General government final consumption expenditure (% of GDP)
Madagascar 14.61 · world median 16.21
Highest 38.94 (Ukraine)
▼ -4 percentile points since 2015
Bottom fifth · bottom 14% of 195 countries measured
Oxford Insights · AI readiness score (0–100)
Madagascar 20.93 · world median 40.19 (worse)
Best in the world 88.36 (United States)
▲ +4 percentile points since 2020
Bottom fifth · bottom 19% of 209 countries measured
World Bank Group · Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)
Madagascar -0.863 · world median 0.01 (worse)
Best in the world 2.28 (Singapore)
▲ +7 percentile points since 2014
Lower middle · bottom 31% of 123 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
Madagascar 3.048 · world median 3.709 (worse)
Best in the world 16.39 (Kiribati)
▲ +27 percentile points since 2013
Bottom fifth · bottom 6% of 168 countries measured
Open Data Watch · ODIN overall score (0–100)
Madagascar 33 · world median 59 (worse)
Best in the world 90 (2 countries tied)
▼ -4 percentile points since 2015
Bottom fifth · bottom 3% of 135 countries measured
World Bank Group · Public sector employment (% of total employment)
Madagascar 2.549 · world median 15.01
Highest 47.1 (Maldives)
No earlier reading to compare
Lower middle · bottom 29% of 168 countries measured
World Bank Group · Public sector wage bill (% of GDP)
Madagascar 5.617 · world median 7.975
Highest 42.65 (Nauru)
▲ +9 percentile points since 2012
Lower middle · bottom 24% of 209 countries measured
World Bank Group · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5)
Madagascar -0.749 · world median -0.09 (worse)
Best in the world 2.132 (Singapore)
▲ +6 percentile points since 2014
Lower middle · bottom 24% of 211 countries measured
World Bank Group · Rule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)
Madagascar -0.883 · world median -0.1 (worse)
Best in the world 2.021 (Finland)
▲ +6 percentile points since 2014
Lower middle · bottom 22% of 188 countries measured
World Bank Group · SPI overall score (0–100)
Madagascar 57.5 · world median 69.3 (worse)
Best in the world 94.14 (Norway)
▲ +7 percentile points since 2016
Bottom fifth · bottom 14% of 139 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Employees who are trade union members (%)
Madagascar 7.225 · world median 16.68 (worse)
Best in the world 91.42 (Iceland)
No earlier reading to compare
Lower middle · bottom 38% of 176 countries measured
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · Electoral democracy index (0–1)
Madagascar 0.361 · world median 0.497 (worse)
Best in the world 0.913 (Denmark)
▼ -7 percentile points since 2015
Lower middle · bottom 32% of 208 countries measured
World Bank Group · Voice and Accountability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)
Madagascar -0.725 · world median -0.02 (worse)
Best in the world 1.929 (Norway)
▲ +7 percentile points since 2014
Lower middle · bottom 26% of 190 countries measured
World Bank Group · WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity)
Madagascar 69.38 · world median 81.25 (worse)
Best in the world 100 (14 countries tied)
No real change since 2014
Bottom fifth · bottom 3% of 139 countries measured
World Bank Group · Adults with an account (% of population aged 15+)
Madagascar 24.45 · world median 72.83 (worse)
Best in the world 99.85 (Iceland)
No real change since 2014
Bottom fifth · bottom 10% of 118 countries measured
World Bank Group · Adjusted net savings, including particulate emission damage (% of GNI)
Madagascar -3.26 · world median 8.389 (worse)
Best in the world 32.18 (Bangladesh)
▼ -8 percentile points since 2011
Top fifth · top 10% of 209 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Agricultural land (% of land area)
Madagascar 70.29 · world median 37.96
Highest 86.48 (Côte d’Ivoire)
No real change since 2013
Top fifth · top 15% of 158 countries measured
World Bank Group · Agriculture, forestry and fishing value added (% of GDP)
Madagascar 21.7 · world median 6.572
Highest 47.59 (Niger)
▼ -6 percentile points since 2015
Middle · bottom 41% of 179 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Cereal yield (kg per hectare)
Madagascar 2,426 · world median 3,072 (worse)
Best in the world 29,147 (Oman)
▼ -13 percentile points since 2013
Middle · top 41% of 195 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Crop production index (2014–2016 = 100)
Madagascar 108.17 · world median 106.23 (better)
Best in the world 189.93 (Senegal)
▼ -31 percentile points since 2012
Bottom fifth · bottom 18% of 145 countries measured
Growth Lab at Harvard University · ECI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3)
Madagascar -1.033 · world median 0.131 (worse)
Best in the world 1.729 (Japan)
▲ +6 percentile points since 2014
Lower middle · bottom 22% of 138 countries measured
World Bank Group · Exports of goods and services (% of GDP)
Madagascar 21.33 · world median 36.34
Highest 199.76 (Hong Kong)
▼ -16 percentile points since 2015
Bottom fifth · bottom 13% of 191 countries measured · 191 share 188 positions
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Fertilizer consumption (kg per hectare of arable land)
Madagascar 7.283 · world median 87.36
Highest 2,926 (Malaysia)
▲ +3 percentile points since 2013
Middle · bottom 48% of 195 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Food production index (2014–2016 = 100)
Madagascar 105.91 · world median 106.08 (worse)
Best in the world 177.49 (Senegal)
▼ -41 percentile points since 2012
Middle · bottom 44% of 186 countries measured
World Bank Group · GDP growth (annual %)
Madagascar 3.003 · world median 3.396 (worse)
Best in the world 19.34 (Guyana)
▼ -9 percentile points since 2015
Bottom fifth · bottom 3% of 185 countries measured
World Bank Group · GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)
Madagascar 1,668 · world median 17,265 (worse)
Best in the world 139,593 (Singapore)
No real change since 2015
Bottom fifth · bottom 14% of 139 countries measured
World Intellectual Property Organization · GII score (0–100)
Madagascar 17.56 · world median 28.52 (worse)
Best in the world 65.96 (Switzerland)
▼ -6 percentile points since 2022
Bottom fifth · bottom 5% of 102 countries measured
World Bank Group · GNI per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)
Madagascar 1,658 · world median 14,273 (worse)
Best in the world 116,633 (Singapore)
No real change since 2015
Middle · top 44% of 131 countries measured
World Bank Group · Gross capital formation (% of GDP)
Madagascar 24.15 · world median 22.93
Highest 45.27 (Algeria)
▲ +44 percentile points since 2015
Lower middle · bottom 31% of 146 countries measured
World Bank Group · Gross savings (% of GDP)
Madagascar 17.53 · world median 22.06
Highest 47.82 (Macau)
▲ +7 percentile points since 2014
Upper middle · top 23% of 131 countries measured
World Bank Group · Household and NPISH final consumption expenditure (% of GDP)
Madagascar 72.81 · world median 62.04
Highest 133.34 (Somalia)
No real change since 2015
Lower middle · bottom 36% of 138 countries measured
World Bank Group · Imports of goods and services (% of GDP)
Madagascar 32.91 · world median 41.72
Highest 196.89 (Hong Kong)
▲ +4 percentile points since 2015
Middle · bottom 45% of 158 countries measured
World Bank Group · Industry, including construction, value added (% of GDP)
Madagascar 23.9 · world median 24.65
Highest 75.09 (Guyana)
▲ +12 percentile points since 2015
Bottom fifth · bottom 7% of 169 countries measured
UNDP Human Development Report Office · IHDI (0–1)
Madagascar 0.319 · world median 0.609 (worse)
Best in the world 0.923 (Iceland)
▼ -10 percentile points since 2013
Lower middle · bottom 28% of 167 countries measured · 167 share 175 positions
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) · LSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100)
Madagascar 26.84 · world median 56.21 (worse)
Best in the world 1,319 (China)
▼ -10 percentile points since 2016
Bottom fifth · bottom 9% of 188 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Livestock units per hectare of agricultural land
Madagascar 0.12 · world median 0.535
Highest 43.97 (Singapore)
No real change since 2013
Bottom fifth · bottom 17% of 194 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Livestock production index (2014–2016 = 100)
Madagascar 94.4 · world median 107.06 (worse)
Best in the world 190.08 (Malawi)
▼ -49 percentile points since 2012
Bottom fifth · bottom 9% of 139 countries measured
World Bank Group · LPI score (1–5)
Madagascar 2.3 · world median 2.9 (worse)
Best in the world 4.3 (Singapore)
▼ -9 percentile points since 2014
Upper middle · top 20% of 130 countries measured
OECD Development Assistance Committee · Net ODA received (% of GNI)
Madagascar 7.995 · world median 2.579
Highest 101.78 (Tuvalu)
▲ +18 percentile points since 2013
Upper middle · top 32% of 197 countries measured · 197 share 180 positions
World Bank Group · Natural resources rents (% of GDP)
Madagascar 5.531 · world median 1.708
Highest 61.03 (Libya)
▲ +5 percentile points since 2011
Lower middle · bottom 29% of 138 countries measured
World Bank Group · Exports plus imports (% of GDP)
Madagascar 54.24 · world median 79.68
Highest 396.65 (Hong Kong)
▼ -6 percentile points since 2015
Bottom fifth · bottom 6% of 126 countries measured · 126 share 99 positions
World Energy Council · Trilemma score (0–100)
Madagascar 40.3 · world median 63.8 (worse)
Best in the world 83.2 (Denmark)
No earlier reading to compare
Lower middle · bottom 24% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person
Madagascar 34.76 · world median 38.89
Highest 54.7 (Bhutan)
▲ +9 percentile points since 2015
Top fifth · top 2% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)
Madagascar 69.21 · world median 14.38
Highest 85.34 (Burundi)
No real change since 2015
Bottom fifth · bottom 11% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Employment in industry (% of total employment)
Madagascar 9.903 · world median 18.88
Highest 39.44 (Oman)
No real change since 2015
Bottom fifth · bottom 3% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Employment in services (% of total employment)
Madagascar 20.89 · world median 59.51
Highest 92.17 (Djibouti)
▲ +2 percentile points since 2015
Top fifth · top 1% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Madagascar 82.89 · world median 57.72 (better)
Best in the world 86.9 (Qatar)
No real change since 2015
Top fifth · top 1% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%)
Madagascar 82.91 · world median 53.36 (better)
Best in the world 82.91 (Madagascar)
No real change since 2015
Top fifth · top 7% of 179 countries measured
World Bank Group · Firms with a female top manager (%)
Madagascar 37.34 · world median 19.16 (better)
Best in the world 62.9 (Kiribati)
No earlier reading to compare
Bottom fifth · bottom 1% of 168 countries measured
World Bank Group · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $)
Madagascar 3,296 · world median 47,384 (worse)
Best in the world 262,554 (Luxembourg)
No real change since 2015
Bottom fifth · bottom 1% of 97 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Informal employment (% of total employment)
Madagascar 94.44 · world median 36.83 (worse)
Best in the world 0.857 (Hungary)
No earlier reading to compare
Top fifth · top 1% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%)
Madagascar 85.5 · world median 61.66 (better)
Best in the world 87.01 (Qatar)
No real change since 2015
Bottom fifth · bottom 2% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP)
Madagascar 1.84 · world median 22.16 (worse)
Best in the world 164.65 (Ireland)
No real change since 2015
Top fifth · top 2% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Self-employed (% of total employment)
Madagascar 88.32 · world median 31.84
Highest 91.56 (Chad)
No real change since 2015
Upper middle · top 23% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Unemployment (% of labour force)
Madagascar 3.041 · world median 5.084 (better)
Best in the world 0.13 (Qatar)
▼ -17 percentile points since 2015
Bottom fifth · bottom 1% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Madagascar 84.42 · world median 28.67 (worse)
Best in the world 0.456 (Qatar)
▼ -2 percentile points since 2015
Bottom fifth · bottom 1% of 113 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Employed people living in extreme poverty (%)
Madagascar 86.02 · world median 4.885 (worse)
Best in the world 0.007 (Bhutan)
No real change since 2015
Top fifth · top 14% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force)
Madagascar 5.247 · world median 12.83 (better)
Best in the world 0.457 (Niger)
▼ -9 percentile points since 2015
Lower middle · bottom 22% of 172 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · Adults 15+ who can read and write (%)
Madagascar 74.69 · world median 93.99 (worse)
Best in the world 100 (3 countries tied)
No earlier reading to compare
Bottom fifth · bottom 8% of 195 countries measured
UNDP Human Development Report Office · Expected years of schooling
Madagascar 9.063 · world median 13.34 (worse)
Best in the world 21.69 (Monaco)
▼ -7 percentile points since 2013
Bottom fifth · bottom 10% of 193 countries measured
UNDP Human Development Report Office · Mean years of schooling (adults 25+)
Madagascar 4.593 · world median 9.933 (worse)
Best in the world 14.3 (Germany)
▼ -6 percentile points since 2013
Middle · top 47% of 121 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
Madagascar 3.401 · world median 3.691 (better)
Best in the world 0.004 (United Arab Emirates)
▼ -11 percentile points since 2014
Lower middle · bottom 24% of 120 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · Net enrolment rate, pre-primary (%)
Madagascar 37.41 · world median 65.93 (worse)
Best in the world 99.85 (Moldova)
▲ +19 percentile points since 2014
Bottom fifth · bottom 7% of 165 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · Primary completion rate (%)
Madagascar 54.01 · world median 97.43 (worse)
Best in the world 100 (5 countries tied)
▼ -4 percentile points since 2015
Bottom fifth · bottom 10% of 164 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · Upper secondary completion rate (%)
Madagascar 14.61 · world median 64.87 (worse)
Best in the world 99.27 (South Korea)
No real change since 2015
Bottom fifth · bottom 17% of 174 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · 15–24 year-olds who can read and write (%)
Madagascar 82.38 · world median 98.22 (worse)
Best in the world 100 (6 countries tied)
No earlier reading to compare
Upper middle · top 39% of 62 countries measured
UNICEF · Children aged 5-17 with a functional difficulty (%)
Madagascar 14.2 · world median 13
Highest 35.2 (Afghanistan)
No earlier reading to compare
Bottom fifth · bottom 1% of 155 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day)
Madagascar 1,957 · world median 2,982 (worse)
Best in the world 3,962 (United States)
No real change since 2014
Upper middle · top 24% of 136 countries measured
UNICEF · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%)
Madagascar 54.41 · world median 40.74 (better)
Best in the world 83.3 (Burundi)
No earlier reading to compare
Bottom fifth · bottom 9% of 172 countries measured
UNDP Human Development Report Office · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality)
Madagascar 0.584 · world median 0.351 (worse)
Best in the world 0.003 (Denmark)
▼ -4 percentile points since 2021
Bottom fifth · bottom 4% of 109 countries measured
Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) · MPI (0–1)
Madagascar 0.386 · world median 0.039 (worse)
Best in the world 0 (Serbia)
▼ -4 percentile points since 2018
Middle · top 50% of 44 countries measured
Food Security Information Network (FSIN) · In IPC Phase 3+ (% of analysed population)
Madagascar 22 · world median 22
Best in the world 3 (El Salvador)
▲ +50 percentile points since 2016
Lower middle · bottom 29% of 209 countries measured · 209 share 206 positions
Small Arms Survey · Violent deaths per 100,000 people
Madagascar 9.31 · world median 4.02 (worse)
Best in the world 0 (4 countries tied)
No real change since 2011
Bottom fifth · bottom 13% of 172 countries measured
World Bank Group · HCI score (0–1)
Madagascar 0.392 · world median 0.564 (worse)
Best in the world 0.879 (Singapore)
No real change since 2010
Bottom fifth · bottom 5% of 193 countries measured
UNDP Human Development Report Office · HDI score (0–1)
Madagascar 0.487 · world median 0.762 (worse)
Best in the world 0.972 (Iceland)
▼ -6 percentile points since 2013
Upper middle · top 38% of 81 countries measured
ACAPS · INFORM Severity (1–5, most severe crisis)
Madagascar 2.7 · world median 3.1 (better)
Best in the world 1.3 (Trinidad and Tobago)
▼ -17 percentile points since 2020
Bottom fifth · bottom 9% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Years a newborn would live at current death rates
Madagascar 63.63 · world median 74.63 (worse)
Best in the world 86.37 (Monaco)
▼ -10 percentile points since 2013
Bottom fifth · bottom 6% of 195 countries measured
UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG) · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births
Madagascar 445.43 · world median 46.65 (worse)
Best in the world 0.11 (Cook Islands)
▼ -7 percentile points since 2013
Bottom fifth · bottom 11% of 181 countries measured · 181 share 178 positions
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland)
Madagascar 0.19 · world median 1.73
Highest 37.72 (Antigua and Barbuda)
No real change since 2014
Bottom fifth · bottom 18% of 133 countries measured · 133 share 127 positions
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Population in severe food insecurity (%)
Madagascar 17.8 · world median 4.7 (worse)
Best in the world 0 (7 countries tied)
▼ -10 percentile points since 2018
Bottom fifth · bottom 1% of 165 countries measured · 165 share 104 positions
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Population undernourished (%)
Madagascar 39.5 · world median 5.2 (worse)
Best in the world 2.5 (62 countries tied)
▼ -5 percentile points since 2013
Bottom fifth · bottom 6% of 162 countries measured
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
Madagascar 39.84 · world median 13.8 (worse)
Best in the world 0.518 (Latvia)
No earlier reading to compare
Bottom fifth · bottom 9% of 200 countries measured
UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) · Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
Madagascar 62.4 · world median 14.54 (worse)
Best in the world 1.26 (San Marino)
▼ -4 percentile points since 2014
Bottom fifth · bottom 19% of 90 countries measured
UNICEF · Children aged 1-14 experiencing violent discipline (%)
Madagascar 86 · world median 75.8 (worse)
Best in the world 37.6 (Qatar)
No earlier reading to compare
Bottom fifth · bottom 5% of 215 countries measured
World Bank Group · Population with electricity access (%)
Madagascar 42.5 · world median 100 (worse)
Best in the world 100 (122 countries tied)
No real change since 2014
Middle · bottom 42% of 121 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Irrigated share of agricultural land (%)
Madagascar 2.176 · world median 3.66
Highest 89.04 (Bangladesh)
No earlier reading to compare
Middle · bottom 47% of 206 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Arable land (hectares per person)
Madagascar 0.096 · world median 0.109
Highest 1.459 (Kazakhstan)
▼ -3 percentile points since 2013
Lower middle · bottom 31% of 161 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Share of the cereal supply that is imported (%)
Madagascar 19.9 · world median 42.8
Highest 100 (16 countries tied)
▲ +2 percentile points since 2012
Bottom fifth · bottom 8% of 145 countries measured · 145 share 143 positions
UNICEF · Women 20–24 married before 18 (%)
Madagascar 38.8 · world median 17.1 (worse)
Best in the world 0 (3 countries tied)
No earlier reading to compare
Bottom fifth · bottom 16% of 169 countries measured
UNDP Human Development Report Office · Coefficient of Human Inequality (%)
Madagascar 33.93 · world median 17.05 (worse)
Best in the world 4.865 (Slovenia)
▼ -3 percentile points since 2013
Middle · top 48% of 93 countries measured
World Bank Group · Average cost of sending $200 home (% of the amount)
Madagascar 2.925 · world median 3.225 (better)
Best in the world -49.69 (Malawi)
▲ +26 percentile points since 2016
Lower middle · bottom 27% of 184 countries measured
UNDP Human Development Report Office · Gender Development Index (1.000 = parity)
Madagascar 0.934 · world median 0.971 (worse)
Best in the world 1 (2 countries tied)
▼ -9 percentile points since 2013
Upper middle · top 28% of 180 countries measured · 180 share 179 positions
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Land under cereal production (hectares)
Madagascar 2,222,098 · world median 689,278
Highest 103,715,108 (India)
▲ +9 percentile points since 2013
Middle · bottom 42% of 156 countries measured · 156 share 150 positions
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Organic share of agricultural land (%)
Madagascar 0.42 · world median 0.725 (worse)
Best in the world 86.38 (Samoa)
▲ +20 percentile points since 2014
Bottom fifth · bottom 8% of 156 countries measured
UNDP Human Development Report Office · PHDI (0–1)
Madagascar 0.481 · world median 0.678 (worse)
Best in the world 0.827 (United Kingdom)
▼ -5 percentile points since 2013
Top fifth · top 3% of 173 countries measured · 173 share 171 positions
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Freshwater withdrawn for agriculture (% of total)
Madagascar 95.89 · world median 62.14
Highest 99.48 (Somalia)
No real change since 2012
Upper middle · top 26% of 198 countries measured · 198 share 193 positions
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Farm-gate emissions (kt CO₂eq)
Madagascar 29,186 · world median 8,635
Highest 1,044,508 (India)
No real change since 2013
Top fifth · top 4% of 126 countries measured
Global Footprint Network · Ecological Footprint (global hectares per person)
Madagascar 0.673 · world median 2.296 (better)
Best in the world 0.514 (Yemen)
▲ +7 percentile points since 2015
Lower middle · bottom 39% of 213 countries measured · 213 share 210 positions
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Forest area (% of land area)
Madagascar 21.3 · world median 31.08
Highest 94.45 (Suriname)
No real change since 2013
Lower middle · bottom 24% of 160 countries measured
Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) · New displacements by disaster (people)
Madagascar 59,000 · world median 4,750 (worse)
Best in the world 1 (Serbia)
▼ -37 percentile points since 2014
Upper middle · top 23% of 181 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Renewable internal freshwater (cubic metres per person)
Madagascar 11,072 · world median 2,528 (better)
Best in the world 445,023 (Iceland)
No real change since 2012
Upper middle · top 40% of 193 countries measured · 193 share 190 positions
Ember · Renewables (% of electricity generated)
Madagascar 42.39 · world median 31.14 (better)
Best in the world 100 (7 countries tied)
▼ -12 percentile points since 2014
Lower middle · bottom 33% of 177 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Freshwater withdrawal as a share of available resources (%)
Madagascar 24.99 · world median 10 (worse)
Best in the world 0.03 (Republic of the Congo)
▼ -3 percentile points since 2013
Bottom fifth · bottom 9% of 193 countries measured
Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV), Ruhr University Bochum · WorldRiskIndex score (0–100, where 100 is the most at risk)
Madagascar 23.68 · world median 4.17 (worse)
Best in the world 0.18 (Monaco)
No real change since 2015
Lower middle · bottom 24% of 140 countries measured
OECD · SIGI score (0 = no discrimination, 100 = absolute)
Madagascar 41 · world median 25.2 (worse)
Best in the world 6.7 (Norway)
No earlier reading to compare
Upper middle · top 35% of 196 countries measured · 196 share 59 positions
Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP) · Deaths in organized violence (people)
Madagascar 0 · world median 0
Best in the world 0 (138 countries tied)
No real change since 2015
Top fifth · top 6% of 149 countries measured
Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies (BICC) · GMI score (higher means a heavier military weight)
Madagascar 45.67 · world median 100.66 (better)
Best in the world 3.512 (Haiti)
No real change since 2013
Bottom fifth · bottom 16% of 191 countries measured
European Commission Joint Research Centre, with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee · INFORM Risk score (0–10, where 10 is the highest risk)
Madagascar 5.8 · world median 3.7 (worse)
Best in the world 0.7 (Singapore)
No real change since 2016
Lower middle · bottom 27% of 176 countries measured
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · Freedom from political killings and torture (0–1)
Madagascar 0.488 · world median 0.79 (worse)
Best in the world 0.989 (2 countries tied)
▼ -13 percentile points since 2015
Lower middle · bottom 30% of 211 countries measured
World Bank Group · Political Stability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)
Madagascar -0.481 · world median 0.04 (worse)
Best in the world 1.582 (Liechtenstein)
▲ +3 percentile points since 2014
The newest edition of these reports does not include Madagascar. Usually the publisher does not cover it; sometimes it has dropped out of a ranking it used to appear in.
07Keep reading
08Method
How a standing is built from percentiles, why Madagascar can move because other countries moved, and why publishers measure between 120 and 215 countries each are set out in full in how a standing is made and what a standing cannot tell you.
The photograph of Madagascar on this page comes from Wikimedia Commons and is shown in greyscale. The photographer and the licence are named beside each one.
Nations Inquiry (2026). Madagascar: country statistics, rankings and trends. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/madagascar